Improved process of restoring- and preserving decaying railroad-ties



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Letters Patent No. 96,405, dated Norember 2, 1869.

IMPROVED PROCEES OF RBSTORING AND PRESER'VING- DECAYING RAILROAD-TIES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAn DRIPPS, of Contesvillc, in the county of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Process of Restoring Dccayed Railroad-Tics to their Original Durability; and I do hereby declare that the follmving is a full, cleatyandcxact description of the same.

It is the practice on railroads, when making a general repair, to take up all the ties, thpugh seven-eighths of them may be good, provided they could be prevented from becoming any more decayed and unserviceablc.

To prevent decay, and restore to such worthless ties an intrinsic value and to prevent the loss of ties only partially deteriorated, is the object of my invention which consists in infusing, as far'as possible, throughout the chinks and cracks, cells, and rotted portions of such partially-decaycd tics, and-in coating their surfaces with a heated liquid preparation of gas-tar and sharp sand, which arrests further decay, and renders the ties fit to be put down again.

Such liquid preparation is composed of one part gas-tar, and three parts sharp sand.

I contemplate no exclusive process for accomplishing the end in view, but have in mind. as one method, to place a number of the removed ties, after being thoroughly dried in an oven. or any other way,within a close vessel, witha sufficient quantity of the composition, which vessel is provided with means of rotation, nd a steam-tight case surrounding it. fitefllli is admit-ted through an opening in the centre of the journal, (or pivot,) and'passcs through an opening in the end of the vessel, and enters between the inside and outside casing, where it should remain long enough to boil the composition, the cylinder or vessel being,'pret'- 'erably, kept in nwtion, so that the composition vill be thoroughly mixed and distributed through and over the tics, when L shut off the steam, and allow the vessel and contents to cool before removal.

The process jnay, however, be carried on in an open boiler, when mcans'of stirring are supplied.

I t is onlyf when ties are partially decayed, or cracked, or otherwise unsound, that this process applies effectually, as, when the ties are new there are no channels for the entry and lodgeinentot'the composition.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use ofthe composition herein described, but wish to be at liberty to use any liquid or plastic composition which my process will admit of, and which will answer the same purpose.

Having thus described myinvention,

What I claim as new, and'dcsire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I i The process, herein described, of restoring and preserving partially-decayed railroad-ties-or sills to a valuable condition, substantially as described.

WILLIAM DRIPPS. Witnesses:

WM. R. Asa, S. W. SMITH. 

